Posts Written OnJune 2014

When Captain George Vancouver visited our region in 1792 aboard HMS Discovery, he spent some time anchored in what we know today as Desolation Sound, so named because he found the spot bleak and dreary. However, this didn’t deter settlers from arriving just 100 years later to seek out the large stands of timber that were easily accessible along the shorelines of the islands in the surrounding area. When Vancouver came, the islands between present day Campbell River and the BC mainland, now commonly called the Discovery Islands, were mainly occupied by Coast Salish tribes; then by the time settlers…

The River City Cycling Club is all about riding in Campbell River. The club boasts recreational riding in the area featuring both road cycling and mountain biking. The purpose of the club is to promote bicycling as well as encourage and facilitate touring, races, bicycle outings, and all forms of recreational bicycling activities. The club hosts group rides, trail days, organized rides to other communities, and good times for all. The River City Cycling Club has a unique working relationship with BC Parks land managers and works directly with them for mutual stewardship and maintenance goals of the existing trails…

There’s a whale of a show in the waters off Campbell River and the east coast of Vancouver Island. And thousands of tourists flock to this community to catch it. The stars of this show are, of course, the whales, primarily the Orca or killer whales and the humpbacks but a strong supporting cast is provided by dolphins and porpoises. Whale watching is the quintessential adventure that draws visitors to this region. “It just seems to be the kind of classic experience for people who come out to the West Coast,” says Roger McDonell, co-owner of Stubbs Island Charters out…

Sealand Aviation, T-Mar Industries and Daigle Welding and Marine are well-known local employers, but their reputations for quality and excellence are recognized far beyond the city’s borders. “Having a local builder produce a product of this calibre is a testament to the skills and innovation of the West Coast boat building industry,” said Edward Dahlgreen of the Nanaimo Port Authority, after Daigle delivered two new patrol vessels in 2012. Daigle is presently putting the finishing touches on two new 43-foot patrol vessels for Port Metro Vancouver and has also begun construction of two new 37-foot pilot vessels for Vancouver. These…

The rim of yellow stone captures a strip of white sunlight. A wall reflects that same light to the viewer’s eye. In another frame, an old cast-iron stove, cluttered with cast iron pots and utensils, is bathed in sunlight. Meanwhile, in a different painting, a pint of Guinness sits on the bar of a darkened pub. Daylight streaming in through an out-of-scene window is captured in the ripples of the beer glass. It’s safe to say that Heather Hughson can see light. And when she sees the way that light strikes a particular scene, she captures it on canvas. “The…

From restaurateur to film commissioner with international connections, Joan Miller makes it happen There’s a scene in Pulp Fiction when the two hit men call in The Cleaner, aka Harvey Keitel, to tidy up a botched job. A loose trigger finger results in the unfortunate and messy demise of some schmuck in the back of a car and now it’s The Cleaner’s job to make it “all go away.” It’s unlikely that Island North Film (INfilm) Commissioner Joan Miller has ever bumped off a mouthy production assistant, but when things go wrong in movieland, she’s the first to be called.…